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After a short labor dispute and long flight, the Boston Red Sox arrived in Japan today and are ready to open the baseball season, reports the AP. The Oakland A's, their opponents in the upcoming 2-game series, arrived in Japan earlier today. "The players are tired but are looking forward to playing some baseball," Red Sox president Larry Lucchino.

The Red Sox had a short boycott of the trip yesterday because Major League Baseball wasn't going to pay the coaches and staff members of the team for going to Japan. The matter was solved after the Red Sox refused to take the field for an exhibition game. The Sox and the A's play exhibition games against Japanese teams Saturday and Sunday then play their set against each other March 25.